Cambrian College has formed a partnership with Greater Sudbury Development Corporation to boost business proposals for animation and game design firms.
The Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC) has invested $200,000 in Cambrian College's R&D (research and development) program over a two-year period to launch a new initiative — Storyboarding: Bringing Greater Sudbury’s Animation Potential to Life.
Cambrian and the development corporation said this shows that the animation and game design industries are rising stars in the local economy.
Under the new Storyboarding initiative, local animation and game design firms will be invited to pitch business proposals to the Cambrian R&D project.
If the business proposal meets the necessary criteria, including a $2,500 investment from the client, up to $10,000 in funding could be made available for the proposal, said a joint news release from Cambrian and the GSDC.
The criteria include providing paid learning opportunities to students in Cambrian’s Animation and Game Design programs, the client’s level of business activity in Greater Sudbury, the project’s viability, and confirmed timelines for production, said the release.
“Animation and gaming are multi-billion-dollar, multinational industries,” said Meredith Armstrong, director of economic development at the City of Greater Sudbury.
“Teaming up with Cambrian R&D means we’ll be able to harness their expertise and experience in supporting up-and-coming businesses, while at the same time giving companies the opportunity to develop the local talent base in game design and animation.”
Since 2012, more than 180 film and television productions have occurred in Greater Sudbury, with an average of $20 million in annual local direct spending, not including indirect benefits, said the news release.
Mike Commito, director of Cambrian R&D, said this is a winning opportunity for the animation business and the college at the same time.
“The creative industries continue to expand in Greater Sudbury, and this is a win for everyone involved,” said Commito.
“Industry partners have access to financial support to grow animation and game design production in this area; our students have more opportunities locally to expand their skills and find work in the field, and our research capacity expands as this is a new sector for us at Cambrian R&D,” he said.
